I labeled as I went along as I too had a mixed up lot...using toothpicks with plain sticky labels folded over the end with printed plant type. You could also use tape. Tedious, but it worked.

Yes, I was using toothpicks with labels. I started out fine and had everything labeled, but when I went to separate doubles into their own cells and transplant some seedlings that needed to go up a size, I just lost track of a couple of seedlings. I also switched from toothpick labels to wide elastics that fit around the larger pots, which I think will work out much better.

I suppose the simple answer is just to pay attention. I could have been more organized with the label supplies before I started transplanting.

What would you do with NOID tomato plants when you don't have a lot of space? I could give them away, but does anyone really want a NOID tomato? [g]

I have a difficult time keeping labels in place, so this year I'm labeling my trays with marker - A, B, C... with a mark on one end for orientation.

Then I'm going to assign numbers to each cell. I use 72-cell trays.

So, Tray A, cell #1 will probably be assigned with the mark away from me, the cell furthest to the left.

If I sow 6 of my saved Rose Tomato seeds, they will be written down in a notebook with that designation... ie: Rose 1 (first saved generation) - tray A; cells 1 - 6. No labels required. When they get transplanted, if I can make marks on the pots, it will be the designation that gets written.

Hopefully, this will help me keep good track, and will force me to keep notes on how each variety performs under what conditions.

A caveat to keep in mind is that each type of plant will have different growth rates. With cell trays, it's good practice to at least try to keep varieties , or plants with similar growth patterns together. That way while under lights, it's easier to adjust distance from the bulbs. This is less of a problem if you aren't using lights.

Sometimes that happens. sigh. Do you have 6 different varieties in one pack? Doubt if you can determine the tomato varieties at this point, unless one is potato-leaf, for example. They'll be a surprise in the garden. :)

In trying to avoid these mistakes, I get out my labels and sharpie pen before I start repotting, then I transplant ONE variety of anything at a time and try to remember to make sure everything is labeled before I move on to the next.

ETA: just saw your other comment... in my experience, people will gladly take NOID tomato plants! I'd just tell them which varieties they *might* be based on what you sowed.

RGreen - I was sure my labels wouldn’t last, so I too created a diagram of the flat of 6 packs I initially sowed, and that was great until I started moving them around. lol I would take the germinated six packs and move them to another tray that was off the heating pad. And then as I said, I started transplanting and separating duplicates. I can recognize which plants are which when they grow true leaves, but of course, with four different varieties of peppers and six of tomatoes, that has been the only problem with labeling.

I already see, that I somehow ended up with both brassicas and tomatoes or peppers in the same six pack and that was a mistake, I will have to correct.

It’s been at least 10 years since I grew under lights, and I thought I had remembered all the necessary steps. They’re all germinating and growing just fine and looking healthy, it seems to be just the labeling that I didn’t give enough thought to.

PartyMusic - I do have some that have potato leaves, but those have labels, those that are not identified are all the non potato leaf varieties.

I’m glad your experience has been that people are happy to take a tomato plant w/o an ID - it should still work out for them, because I have a lot of great varieties that they can’t go wrong with. ;-)

Thanks!

Lol... yeah, you gotta remember to make the orientation mark on the flats themselves. That way, as they get moved around, you can keep track. I'm bad at it too, as well as every year saying that I'll keep better records. I'm hoping the plan I outlined above will force me to take good notes. I just built a permanent seed starting station, so I will hang a notebook right there to minimize excuses. I always think that I'll remember, and I never do.

RGreen - I did finally get in the habit of keeping a garden journal and although I am not perfect with it, I'm pretty consistent now. But -- I keep my journal on my computer in the form of a spreadsheet. Very quick, organized and I'm on the computer a lot and I don't have to remember where I put it. :-)

I stick my labels on to the container I start my seeds in and to the pots and tray inserts that they end up in. I use peel off sticky labels marked with an extra fine sharpie. They stay on and are legible through bottom watering. They won't peel off entirely but enough that you can use them the next year with a new label over the old one. I have tried the sticking the label in the soil but they can be dislodged or fall out of the container. I've used everything from toothpicks to Popsicle sticks to bought labels and none worked as well as sticking the label on the container.

I've never warmed up to watering from the bottom. I also like to use a spray bottle to mist the tops of newly seeded cells and I just basically get everything wet. I also like to have a label that I can stick in the ground at the base of every variety, so I can keep track of which variety is which. I'm ordering new labels and two new markers that might be UV resistant and last me the season. I'm hoping this will be a good fit for me this year….

100 count Plastic Labels

Paint Marker

China Markers